Thomas Theling won the VDID Newcomers’ Award 2017 with his “Timelight.”
The winners of the VDID Newcomers’ Award 2017 were presented with their awards at the Interzum fair in Cologne. Thomas Theling won the special prize, sponsored by MENTOR, with his “Timelight – Interactive floor lamp and clock.” This was the eighth year in which the VDID Newcomers’ Award was presented. It honours outstanding project work from the Product/Industrial Design course and helps upcoming designers gain a successful start to their career. A total of 136 pieces were submitted by young designers from 33 universities, covering all branches of product and industrial design. Four equal-ranking main prize winners were named; and four other pieces were recognised.
The special prize for work with integrated lighting solutions, sponsored by MENTOR for the first time this year, was presented to the designer Thomas Theling for his “Timelight – Interactive floor lamp and clock,” which was created during the first semester of his Master’s course at Dresden University of Applied Sciences. For the user, “Timelight” is intended to bring about conscious handling of light and a stronger relationship with the product. It combines the functions of floor lamp and clock in an archetypal design.
The jury decision said: “The issue of “product life cycle” shows responsibility in the handling of the abundance that leads to an increasingly rapid replacement of products. Design can counteract this, bringing about products that create an emotional tie. Through interaction with the “Timelight” clock/light, playful and deliberate handling is required and a personal relationship with the product is reinforced. The “two-in-one” functionality has a minimalist design, which is both aesthetically pleasing and playful.”
With the award of this special prize, MENTOR aims to support the VDID with its promotion of young talent and, at the same time, enthuse young designers about the wide range of possibilities that integrated light solutions can offer in the design of trend-setting products. Thomas Theling works as an independent industrial designer in Dresden. For more about him and his work, as well as more information about the VDID Newcomers’ Award 2017, see:
